“I am glad to see you, son of Darya,” said the Prince. “Go and rest while I read the letters. My servants will see that you have food and drink. You shall have new clothing and a bag of gold. After you have been refreshed, come hither again, as I would question you.”
The servant took the messenger away and gave him of the best. The Prince hastily broke the seals of the dispatch-bag and poured out its contents upon a table. He examined the several packets hastily and was disappointed at not finding any letter from Athura.
“This is evil luck!” he exclaimed. “Surely she could have sent me a letter by the hand of this messenger! Here is an official dispatch bearing the King’s seal. Here is one from the noble Otanes. Ah, here is one from my father! We will read it first.”
He broke the seal and unwrapped the vellum which covered the inner roll of papyrus. Unrolling this, he read aloud:
“Beloved Son:
“It gave me very great pleasure to receive your letter and to hear that you are well and at peace in your provinces. A letter from your mother has also arrived this day. She is well and speaks of her great loneliness in that both you and I are absent. I have determined to send for her that she may be with me here, since it now seems that I shall have to remain here several months. I have just received a letter from the King of Kings, by the hand of the Grand Chamberlain, Prexaspes, advising me that the Prince Bardya has departed for Bactra from Hamadan. But the Prince has not yet arrived. This letter also calls for a levy of one hundred thousand men for the proposed war in Egypt. What Prince Bardya will say to this request, I fear will not please the King. Reports have come which cause me much uneasiness. It is said the King of Kings is consulting the sorcerers and consorting with those who worship the Lie. His delay for months to permit Bardya to come hither has caused much uneasiness.
“This realm is peaceful now, although the Sogdians are turbulent and the Getæ are ever plotting raids upon their neighbors. The fear of my veterans is upon them, however, and the mountain chiefs are making daily professions of fealty and devotion. But I think it is fear rather than love which causes them to be at peace and to turn traders instead of looters.
“But I will write no more, except to say that the son of Darya will make due inquiries and observations of affairs at Hamadan so that he may report fully to you concerning them.”
The Prince re-read that portion of the letter referring to Bardya.
“I look for trouble as soon as Bardya arrives in Bactra,” said he. “It is well that my father has remained there. He will restrain the Prince. Now I will read the King’s letter.”